Early FAFSA

Two BIG changes are coming to the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 academic year!

Earlier FAFSA filing

Beginning for the 2017-2018 school year, you will be able to file your FAFSA on October 1, 2016! This change will allow students additional time to complete the FAFSA, compile paperwork, and make decisions about borrowing and budgeting for school. This change is PERMAMENT meaning that EVERY year going forward, you will be able to file the FAFSA beginning October 1 of the prior year.

Use of Earlier Income and Tax Information

The 2017-2018 FAFSA will require tax information from two years prior to the start of the year. With this change, students will have easier access to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA, and should be able to complete the FAFSA without having to wait for taxes to be filed.

The chart below demonstrates how these changes compare to prior years, and how it will impact FAFSA filing going forward:

If you plan to attend
college from

You will submit
this FAFSA

You can submit
the FAFSA from

Using income and tax
information from

July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016

2015-16

January 1, 2015-June 30, 2016

2014

July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017

2016-17

January 1, 2016-June 30, 2017

2015

July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018

2017-18

October 1, 2016-June 30, 2018

2015

July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019

2018-19

October 1, 2017-June 30, 2019

2016

We have put together commonly asked questions about the FAFSA changes to help you navigate through this process. If there is a question you have that we haven't answered, please contact us at
finaid@uwp.edu and we will be happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is this FAFSA change effective?

This change begins for the
2017-2018 FAFSA.

What date is the FAFSA available?

October 1 of the year prior to
starting (example: October 1, 2016 for the 2017-2018 academic year)

Will this always be how it is?

Yes. From the 2017-2018 FAFSA going
forward, the form will always become available in October, and will always use
taxes from two years prior.

What taxes should I use on my FAFSA?

The taxes should be from two years
prior to the start of the academic year:

Academic year:
2017-2018 Taxes: 2015

Academic Year:
2018-2019 Taxes: 2016

Academic year:
2019-2020 Taxes: 2017

Academic year:
2020-2021 Taxes: 2018

Does this mean that we’re using the same tax information two years in a row?

If you are attending in 2016-2017,
then yes. Your 2015 tax information will be used for BOTH the 2016-2017 FAFSA
and the 2017-2018 FAFSA.

What is the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is a
linking option in the FAFSA that will allow you to pull your tax information
directly from the IRS into your FAFSA. This helps eliminate errors and makes
completing the FAFSA much faster and easier. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool
doesn't work for everyone, so if you've filed foreign tax returns, amended
returns, or were victims of identity theft, it won't work for you and you will
have to enter your tax information manually.

What if my financial status has changed?

Complete the FAFSA using the
information as requested. Once completed, notify our office of the changes in
earnings and we will review your FAFSA to see if the changes could impact your
eligibility and talk about next steps. We will make any appropriate changes to
your FAFSA based on information you provide us.

What materials will I need to complete my FAFSA?

You will need your SSN, tax
information as listed above, current bank statements like checking and savings,
W-2's, and your FSA ID. If you are a dependent student, you will need all the
same information for your parent(s).

What is the FSA ID?

An FSA ID acts as your electronic signature and is linked to your email address. A student and at least one parent (for dependent students) will need an FSA ID, and it can be set up at any time. The FSA ID website is
https://fsaid.ed.gov

FSAID

What if my marital status has changed since I filed taxes?

Complete the FAFSA using the
information as requested on the form, then notify our office of your specific
situations for instructions and next steps.